Justice Isa takes oath as challenges await him

A senior lawyer suggests state institutions should embrace Justice Isa's efforts to restore the judiciary's reputation

ISLAMABAD:

Despite all resistance by brothers and powerful circles, Justice Qazi Faez Isa has taken oath as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) during a challenging time. His appointment comes amid a flurry of controversies and obstacles that await him as he dons the robes of the country's topmost adjudicator.

The newly appointed CJP wasted no time and immediately summoned a full court meeting on Monday (today) at 9 a.m. The move is seen as a departure from his predecessor, as outgoing CJP Umar Ata Bandial did not call for such a meeting during his tenure.

The agenda of the meeting is said to include discussions on pending cases, the prioritisation of cases, the telecast of court proceedings, and guidelines for effective hearings.

However, similar to his predecessors, Justice Qazi Faez Isa faces several challenges in the initial phase of his role.
Despite his determination, Justice Qazi Faez Isa faces significant challenges, particularly the restoration of the superior judiciary's authority, which receded during the tenure of outgoing CJP Umar Ata Bandial due to internal clashes, according to a senior lawyer.

However, the lawyer believes that the superior judiciary will regain its position under the leadership of the new CJP.Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, another advocate, highlighted the differences among judges, the constitutional crisis, and the restoration of the Supreme Court's authority and prestige as major challenges for Justice Isa.

Abdul Moiz Jafferi, commenting further on the challenges, emphasised the need to unite the court, defend the constitution, protect the reputation of the judiciary, address the concerns raised previously, safeguard the fundamental rights of individuals detained under the Army Act, and ensure the timely delivery of elections within 90 days.

'State institutions should welcome it'

It is worth noting that Justice Isa has been vocal about the role of the security establishment in national politics. He has expressed his opinions on important cases like the Faizabad Dharna case and the Quetta Commission report.

Consequently, the security establishment had moved a presidential reference in an attempt to remove him.

However, the incumbent top brass of the establishment appeared cordial towards Justice Isa during the oath-taking ceremony.

A senior lawyer stressed the need for state institutions to welcome Justice Qazi Faez Isa's steps towards restoring the judiciary's image, which suffered during the previous CJP's tenure.

He said that with Imran Khan's popularity at its peak and high inflation rates, the role of the new CJP has become increasingly significant for the security establishment.

As he dons the cloak of the country’s topmost adjudicator, it will be closely watched as to how Justice Isa navigates issues such as holding general elections within 90 days, trials of civilians in military courts under the Army Act, and political parties' concerns about civil liberties.